Facebook has multiple status updates regarding pink ribbons and people having pink streaks of color put in their hair for breast cancer awareness. My son said last year, 'Who doesn't know about breast cancer by now?" seeing all the stuff the football players wear to show support. I am not sure how the pink stuff for their uniforms is paid for (guess I could look it up...) and also wonder what happens to the added features at the end of the season. Maybe they can be used again the following October? There are marathons, telethons, and other fund raising events going on, and I have a friend who is instrumental in orchestrating some of these events locally.
Not only is it breast cancer awareness month but also clergy appreciation month. One of my teacher friends in CO posted recently expressing "Teachers get only one day..." of course, in jest. The racks at the grocery store have greeting cards in the end caps so we can acknowledge our pastors, several of the cards being the kind money gets tucked into. Not very subtle, is it?
October is also domestic violence awareness month so many announcements and PSAs abound regarding this problem faced in many families. A friend of mine used to be the main fund raiser for our local 'safe house', and I have donated clothing and other household items to them, including most recently my exercise bike! 5 years ago they got plenty of stuff from me after the Great Flood, and my friend was glad to deliver the items for me.
Other things being recognized this month include shelter dogs, Apple Jacks cereal, cookies (yay!), country ham (yay!), drums, pizza, seafood, and various medical conditions including lupus, diabetes, and pharmacists (not a condition actually). And it's vegetarian awareness month which is interesting to me. "How do you know when someone is a vegetarian?" "Within 10 minutes they will tell you..." After I heard this 'joke' I paid attention and sure enough, it's true! Even one of our waiters at Chili's felt like telling us he is vegetarian. We did not ask him, he volunteered this info. Not a good sales pitch at a place like Chili's. He might be happier across the street at Sweet Tomatoes.
People who have lost children are encouraged to place a lighted candle in their window on the 15th of October for awareness purposes. I have done this in the past in December. Compassionate Friends chooses the 2nd Sunday in December for this. My friend, Cindy, gave me a battery-operated candle just for this reason many years ago. I can't say I always remember to get it out. I'll be home this year at the time so will make an effort to do so.
All of these plus the many others celebrated this month are worthwhile causes and issues. The one, though, which has basically swamped my 'feed' on Facebook is in regard to recognizing those who have had miscarriages, stillbirths, or had infants die. Oh my....I know so many folks who have had miscarriages and even stillbirths, some whose babies lived only minutes or were delivered already dead, having died in utero. I am not sure what exactly can be achieved by having an awareness month. Those who have these losses in their lives are well aware, as are their families and friends. Perhaps it is meant to educate folks on how to care for those who've had such a loss.
One link I clicked took me to a site where one could order greeting cards just for such situations, a couple of which even included street language to offer your sentiments to someone whose lost a child. I am so thankful no one saw fit to get me such a card. Is it that difficult to come up with a few words to express sympathy or sorrow to a person? Some might say it is, but not having to resort to vulgar or profane printed cards. No one is that socially inept, are they? Perhaps they are if they buy these cards!
